VDOT: Road conditions improving

View larger image Elizabeth Sampson captured this snowy night scene from her Carlisle Heights home in Winchester on Wednesday. View larger image Christina Kibler sent this photo of her son playing in the snow at their home in Woodstock shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday. "We have 5 inches and counting. Power's out up the street." View larger image Jennifer and Hugh Goodloe sent in this photo of a snowy scene in Woodstock, next to Peter Muhlenberg Middle School this afternoon. View larger image nvdaily.com reader Theda Dawson submitted this Front Royal snow scene. View larger image nvdaily.com reader Jodi Graham of Bloomery, W.Va., submitted this snow photo. She said it is "still snowing very hard. Three inches so far and counting."

The Virginia Department of Transportation reports that area road conditions are improving.

Motorists will find clear conditions on Interstate 66 in Warren County and on Interstate 81 in Rockbridge, Augusta, Rockingham, Frederick and Shenandoah counties.

Primary roads are in moderate condition (major portions of roadway are snow- or ice-covered) in Highland, Shenandoah and Page counties, and in minor condition (isolated spots of snow, ice or slush) in Clarke, Warren, Rockingham, August, Highland, Rockbridge and Bath counties.

Secondary roads are in moderate condition in Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge and Bath counties.

Snowfall totals:
The National Weather Service reports the following snow accumulation in our area:

* Winchester: 8 inches
* Berryville: 10.2 inches
* Stephenson: 9 inches
* Stephens City: 8.9 inches
* Middletown: 6 inches
* Luray: 5.5 inches
* Toms Brook: 7.8 inches
* Front Royal: 7 inches
* Linden: 11.1 inches

Electrical outages:

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative reports that 3,400 customers are still without power as of 1 p.m. Thursday. According to a press release issued this afternoon, more than 20,000 customers were left without power in 14 counties. Most of the outages were in Clarke, Warren, Fauquier and Culpeper counties.

REC hopes to have all outages restored by the end of the day, but warns some customers in some off-road and mountainous areas may be not see power restored until Friday.

Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative reported outages overnight in Winchester and August, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah and Warren counties. As of 1:15 p.m. today, 288 customers are without power.

SVEC warns that more outages may occur today due to the heavy snow, winds and trees breaking on power lines. Residents are urged not to clear trees or other debris from power lines.

Cancellations
* Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has cancelled live racing for Thursday evening due to weather conditions. Live racing is scheduled to resume on Friday, with post time for the first race at 7:15 p.m.

Winchester Transit's South Loudoun bus route will stop running at 3:30 p.m. today (last bus at 3 p.m.) and the Northside bus route will stop running at 4 p.m. today (last bus at 3:30 p.m.). All other routes will be running on schedule.

School closings

Area public schools in Clarke, Frederick, Warren and Page counties and in the city of Winchester will be closed today for the second day in a row due to inclement weather. Shenandoah County public schools were scheduled to be closed today.

Shenandoah Valley Christian Academy and Lord Fairfax Community College are closed today.